Chapter Four: The Sheep Opens Up
The school bell rang and Tohru stretched a bit. It was the last day before the Spring Festival. Hana's family was taking a little trip and Uo was going with them so, they said goodbye at their lockers.
"You have fun at the Festival okay?" Uo replied as she left with Hana.
"Don't worry I will. And I'll be sure to get you guys a souvenir."
"Don't waste your money Tohru" Hana said.
"No it's all right I've been saving up" Tohru replied with a smile.
Tohru gave them one final wave then grabbed her bag. She looked around her for Kyo but couldn't see him.
"Hmm? I'll go wait for him outside."
She walked out into the front of the school and saw Hiro leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. She walked over immediately.
"Hiro what are you doing here?" she asked him.
"About time you got here. I've been waiting for practically ten minutes," he said as he stood up from the wall his arms still crossed and his eyes shut.
"Huh?"
"You got to work tonight?"
"No" she shook her head, "I'm off tonight."
"Good" he replied snatching her hand, "Then let's go."
"Where are we going?" she stuttered.
"Do you have to know everything? Let's just go already" he pulled on her hand some more.
"Okay" she let him lead her away.
A couple of minutes later Kyo came out of the school building, but Tohru and Hiro were no where in sight.
"Tohru!" he called scanning for her, "Where did that girl go?" he huffed sticking his hands in his pockets.
*******************************************************
Hiro led Tohru to the very same spot she had found him the time he had stolen her wallet.
"This must be one of your special places?" she said as she gazed around it.
"Why's that?" he asked.
"No reason. It's just everyone has a special place" she sat down on another rock.
"Doesn't mean I do" he sat on his favorite rock, "And even if I did, why would I share it with you?"
"Uh?"
"Never mind" he sighed, "I guess you're wondering why I dragged you here?"
"Well the thought did cross my mind."
"Kisa wants me to apologize for my rude behavior the other day."
"Oh that's not necessary."
"Listen when someone apologizes" he looked at her angrily, "You let them apologize."
"Okay" she nodded nervously.
"Any way I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too."
"What are you sorry for? Geez you're always apologizing for things when you don't have to apologize. Is that the way you get people to like you? Or do you like being taken advantage of and being a doormat?"
"Uh well I uh."
"Honestly I don't know what Kisa sees in you. Or anyone for that matter. You're nothing special."
"I guess not."
"You don't have to agree with me. I just insulted you. What are you acting so stupid for? Don't you ever get mad or angry or anything?"
"Actually it's not in my nature to get angry at anything."
"Huh?" he looked up stunned.
"I don't know if I'm capable of it."
"Oh."
"But, was the apology all you wanted to see me about?"
"No" he shook his head not looking at her, "I wanted to see."
"Yes."
He sighed heavily.
"Do you really keep secrets?"
"Sure. If you want me to."
"You'll even keep it from Kisa."
"Mhm."
"What happened at school was a lot worse then Kisa knew. We were talking about stuff like that. But that foul mouth. That jerk he was saying such inappropriate things about her" Hiro clenched his fist.
"Like what?"
"Like how easy she probably is."
"Easy?"
"You know!"
"Well yea" Tohru blushed, "But I didn't think that twelve year olds talk like that."
"Oh please are you kidding. Especially that sick creep. Any way I got angry and I hit him. The guys weren't teasing me; they were making fun of her. It's true that she's got friends with the girls now, but the guys think she's all sweet and innocent. And I hate it! I hate them! Kisa wasn't supposed to know about it. I guess she found out from her friends."
"I see. Thank you for telling me Hiro" Tohru stood up.
"Wait" he looked up at her.
"Is there more?"
"Yea" he nodded slowly and she sat back down, "I wanted to ask you, what did you say to Kisa, when she wasn't talking? What did you say to make her talk again?"
"It wasn't me. It was actually Yuki."
"Yuki?"
"Mhm."
"But you said something. Something to make her smile. Something that made her feel good."
"Oh that. Well when Kisa's mom came looking for her she wanted to know why Kisa was doing the things she was doing. And I simply said how I would feel in her position. I said the worst thing in the world to me would be someone who cared about me suddenly not loving me anymore. Kisa was afraid of losing her mother. And was afraid to show her mom that weak side of herself. I understand. Since my mom passed away, oh wait, you don't like to hear about my mom" Tohru stopped herself.
"No it's okay. You can go on."
"Okay. Since my mom passed away I have been afraid to show my weak side too. I always was able to show it when she was alive because she would pick me up, make me feel better. But now she's gone and I have to be the strong one. It's hard sometimes but then I remember all the words of wisdom that she gave me, and it helps. It helps me get through my day. So when I saw Kisa, I've been in her position before. When I was around her age, I was picked on. But I had my mom. And at times I was a little scared to tell her when I was afraid. Afraid she'd stop loving me just because I wasn't brave. It's common for kids to feel that way. So that's all I said. Does that help?"
"Huh? Oh yea. But I bet you don't know."
"Know what?"
"Why Kisa felt alone, during that time. Why I didn't stop them?"
"Oh."
"I love Kisa" Hiro replied, "I love her a lot. I feel weird telling you this of all people, but I know you wont tell her. I wanted the world to know my love for her. I wanted even Akito to know."
"Akito?"
"Yea. But that was my mistake. Instead of him being supportive he did the worst possible thing."
"Go on."
"It happened a few days later. But I still remember. Kisa and I were walking along the hallways of the main house. Just chatting and having a good time. And then he came. As soon as he saw her, he" Hiro took a deep breath, "He."
Tohru walked over and placed a hand on Hiro's.
"It's okay if you don't want to say it" she replied gently.
Hiro looked down at her hand stunned then shook his head.
"No. I want to."
"Okay."
"He hit her. He smacked her right in the face. And she fell. She hit a pillar in the hall. She was unconscious for a few moments. Then he just walked down the hall as if he did nothing" Hiro started clenching his fist again, "I wanted to shout! But I couldn't. All I could do was wait for Hatori to come and patch her up. After that I tried to have as little to do with Kisa. So she wouldn't get hurt anymore."
"Oh Hiro."
"That's when they started picking on her. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't be with her. Because it was my fault."
"What?"
"It was all my fault that she got hurt" Hiro started to cry, "I had to be a big mouth and tell Akito what I felt. I couldn't stand up to him."
"No Hiro" Tohru sat up next to him and continued to hold onto his hand, "It's just one of those things."
"Why did I have to say anything?"
"Because you love her. And you know what any girl would be lucky to have a guy like you."
"Huh?"
"You stood up for what you believe in Hiro. Even to Akito. You told him how you felt and you didn't try to keep it a secret. That's very admirable of you. I don't think it was your fault. It's just the way Akito operates. It's just one of those things."
"You know" Hiro stood up, "Kisa's right you aren't so bad."
"Uh."
Hiro picked up his bag and looked ahead.
"But if you ever tell anyone we had this conversation."
"Huh?" she looked at him as he turned his head slightly to look at her.
"Or tell anyone that I cried" he turned his head and began to walk away, "I'll deny it. I'll deny it to my grave. Just so you know. This conversation never happened" he left the area.
"Okay" Tohru smiled and stood up herself, "That Hiro" she thought, "What a sweetie pie."
******************************************************
As Hiro walked home he smiled a bit.
"That dumb girl" he thought as he continued to smile, "She's such a nosy person. Still for some reason I feel so much better. Can't be her though."
**********************************************************
When Tohru was halfway home she bumped into Kyo.
"Where the hell have you been? I just came to look for you?" he asked.
"I'm sorry Kyo. I had to talk to someone" she replied as she walked past him heading in the direction of the house.
"Who?" he asked following her.
"No one important" she answered with a smile, "Just someone who needed to talk."
She began to hum as she walked happily back. Kyo just scratched and shook his head.
"Girls" he thought, "I don't think I'll ever understand them."
**********************************************************
Authors Note: Well that's it for this week! See you all for two more chapters on Monday! Thanks again for the great reviews you guys!
Next Chapter: Festival Day One
The Sohmas and Tohru are going to the first day of the festival. Rides, games and even some unexpected people! One in particular. Find out whom next week!
The school bell rang and Tohru stretched a bit. It was the last day before the Spring Festival. Hana's family was taking a little trip and Uo was going with them so, they said goodbye at their lockers.
"You have fun at the Festival okay?" Uo replied as she left with Hana.
"Don't worry I will. And I'll be sure to get you guys a souvenir."
"Don't waste your money Tohru" Hana said.
"No it's all right I've been saving up" Tohru replied with a smile.
Tohru gave them one final wave then grabbed her bag. She looked around her for Kyo but couldn't see him.
"Hmm? I'll go wait for him outside."
She walked out into the front of the school and saw Hiro leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. She walked over immediately.
"Hiro what are you doing here?" she asked him.
"About time you got here. I've been waiting for practically ten minutes," he said as he stood up from the wall his arms still crossed and his eyes shut.
"Huh?"
"You got to work tonight?"
"No" she shook her head, "I'm off tonight."
"Good" he replied snatching her hand, "Then let's go."
"Where are we going?" she stuttered.
"Do you have to know everything? Let's just go already" he pulled on her hand some more.
"Okay" she let him lead her away.
A couple of minutes later Kyo came out of the school building, but Tohru and Hiro were no where in sight.
"Tohru!" he called scanning for her, "Where did that girl go?" he huffed sticking his hands in his pockets.
*******************************************************
Hiro led Tohru to the very same spot she had found him the time he had stolen her wallet.
"This must be one of your special places?" she said as she gazed around it.
"Why's that?" he asked.
"No reason. It's just everyone has a special place" she sat down on another rock.
"Doesn't mean I do" he sat on his favorite rock, "And even if I did, why would I share it with you?"
"Uh?"
"Never mind" he sighed, "I guess you're wondering why I dragged you here?"
"Well the thought did cross my mind."
"Kisa wants me to apologize for my rude behavior the other day."
"Oh that's not necessary."
"Listen when someone apologizes" he looked at her angrily, "You let them apologize."
"Okay" she nodded nervously.
"Any way I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too."
"What are you sorry for? Geez you're always apologizing for things when you don't have to apologize. Is that the way you get people to like you? Or do you like being taken advantage of and being a doormat?"
"Uh well I uh."
"Honestly I don't know what Kisa sees in you. Or anyone for that matter. You're nothing special."
"I guess not."
"You don't have to agree with me. I just insulted you. What are you acting so stupid for? Don't you ever get mad or angry or anything?"
"Actually it's not in my nature to get angry at anything."
"Huh?" he looked up stunned.
"I don't know if I'm capable of it."
"Oh."
"But, was the apology all you wanted to see me about?"
"No" he shook his head not looking at her, "I wanted to see."
"Yes."
He sighed heavily.
"Do you really keep secrets?"
"Sure. If you want me to."
"You'll even keep it from Kisa."
"Mhm."
"What happened at school was a lot worse then Kisa knew. We were talking about stuff like that. But that foul mouth. That jerk he was saying such inappropriate things about her" Hiro clenched his fist.
"Like what?"
"Like how easy she probably is."
"Easy?"
"You know!"
"Well yea" Tohru blushed, "But I didn't think that twelve year olds talk like that."
"Oh please are you kidding. Especially that sick creep. Any way I got angry and I hit him. The guys weren't teasing me; they were making fun of her. It's true that she's got friends with the girls now, but the guys think she's all sweet and innocent. And I hate it! I hate them! Kisa wasn't supposed to know about it. I guess she found out from her friends."
"I see. Thank you for telling me Hiro" Tohru stood up.
"Wait" he looked up at her.
"Is there more?"
"Yea" he nodded slowly and she sat back down, "I wanted to ask you, what did you say to Kisa, when she wasn't talking? What did you say to make her talk again?"
"It wasn't me. It was actually Yuki."
"Yuki?"
"Mhm."
"But you said something. Something to make her smile. Something that made her feel good."
"Oh that. Well when Kisa's mom came looking for her she wanted to know why Kisa was doing the things she was doing. And I simply said how I would feel in her position. I said the worst thing in the world to me would be someone who cared about me suddenly not loving me anymore. Kisa was afraid of losing her mother. And was afraid to show her mom that weak side of herself. I understand. Since my mom passed away, oh wait, you don't like to hear about my mom" Tohru stopped herself.
"No it's okay. You can go on."
"Okay. Since my mom passed away I have been afraid to show my weak side too. I always was able to show it when she was alive because she would pick me up, make me feel better. But now she's gone and I have to be the strong one. It's hard sometimes but then I remember all the words of wisdom that she gave me, and it helps. It helps me get through my day. So when I saw Kisa, I've been in her position before. When I was around her age, I was picked on. But I had my mom. And at times I was a little scared to tell her when I was afraid. Afraid she'd stop loving me just because I wasn't brave. It's common for kids to feel that way. So that's all I said. Does that help?"
"Huh? Oh yea. But I bet you don't know."
"Know what?"
"Why Kisa felt alone, during that time. Why I didn't stop them?"
"Oh."
"I love Kisa" Hiro replied, "I love her a lot. I feel weird telling you this of all people, but I know you wont tell her. I wanted the world to know my love for her. I wanted even Akito to know."
"Akito?"
"Yea. But that was my mistake. Instead of him being supportive he did the worst possible thing."
"Go on."
"It happened a few days later. But I still remember. Kisa and I were walking along the hallways of the main house. Just chatting and having a good time. And then he came. As soon as he saw her, he" Hiro took a deep breath, "He."
Tohru walked over and placed a hand on Hiro's.
"It's okay if you don't want to say it" she replied gently.
Hiro looked down at her hand stunned then shook his head.
"No. I want to."
"Okay."
"He hit her. He smacked her right in the face. And she fell. She hit a pillar in the hall. She was unconscious for a few moments. Then he just walked down the hall as if he did nothing" Hiro started clenching his fist again, "I wanted to shout! But I couldn't. All I could do was wait for Hatori to come and patch her up. After that I tried to have as little to do with Kisa. So she wouldn't get hurt anymore."
"Oh Hiro."
"That's when they started picking on her. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't be with her. Because it was my fault."
"What?"
"It was all my fault that she got hurt" Hiro started to cry, "I had to be a big mouth and tell Akito what I felt. I couldn't stand up to him."
"No Hiro" Tohru sat up next to him and continued to hold onto his hand, "It's just one of those things."
"Why did I have to say anything?"
"Because you love her. And you know what any girl would be lucky to have a guy like you."
"Huh?"
"You stood up for what you believe in Hiro. Even to Akito. You told him how you felt and you didn't try to keep it a secret. That's very admirable of you. I don't think it was your fault. It's just the way Akito operates. It's just one of those things."
"You know" Hiro stood up, "Kisa's right you aren't so bad."
"Uh."
Hiro picked up his bag and looked ahead.
"But if you ever tell anyone we had this conversation."
"Huh?" she looked at him as he turned his head slightly to look at her.
"Or tell anyone that I cried" he turned his head and began to walk away, "I'll deny it. I'll deny it to my grave. Just so you know. This conversation never happened" he left the area.
"Okay" Tohru smiled and stood up herself, "That Hiro" she thought, "What a sweetie pie."
******************************************************
As Hiro walked home he smiled a bit.
"That dumb girl" he thought as he continued to smile, "She's such a nosy person. Still for some reason I feel so much better. Can't be her though."
**********************************************************
When Tohru was halfway home she bumped into Kyo.
"Where the hell have you been? I just came to look for you?" he asked.
"I'm sorry Kyo. I had to talk to someone" she replied as she walked past him heading in the direction of the house.
"Who?" he asked following her.
"No one important" she answered with a smile, "Just someone who needed to talk."
She began to hum as she walked happily back. Kyo just scratched and shook his head.
"Girls" he thought, "I don't think I'll ever understand them."
**********************************************************
Authors Note: Well that's it for this week! See you all for two more chapters on Monday! Thanks again for the great reviews you guys!
Next Chapter: Festival Day One
The Sohmas and Tohru are going to the first day of the festival. Rides, games and even some unexpected people! One in particular. Find out whom next week!